Devine Scripture

John 5:21

What does John 5:21 mean?

A plain-English look at John 5:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 5:21 means

Jesus asserts a divine prerogative: “As the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.” Raising the dead is God’s work; Jesus claims to do likewise by His will. This reveals absolute sovereignty and equality with the Father. Life is not merely physical healing but the gift of spiritual and, ultimately, bodily resurrection. The phrase “to whom he will” shows that life is given freely and personally, resting on the Son’s sovereign grace. This claim interprets the healing as a sign of a greater reality: Christ speaks and life comes to the helpless. He is the fountain of life to dead hearts.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In the same way, as the Father gives life to the dead, even so the Son gives life to those to whom he is pleased to give it.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`For, as the Father doth raise the dead, and doth make alive, so also the Son doth make alive whom he willeth;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For as the Father raiseth up the dead and giveth life: so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For even as the Father raises the dead and quickens [them], thus the Son also quickens whom he will:

Context

After speaking of the Father’s love and disclosure (verse 20), Jesus names a central work He shares with the Father: giving life, even raising the dead. This anticipates the promises of verses 24–25 about passing from death to life and hearing the Son’s voice. It also prepares for verse 28’s universal resurrection. By placing life-giving at the center, Jesus reframes the Sabbath dispute: His works are the Creator’s restorative acts. The following verse (22) adds the complementary prerogative of judgment, and verse 23 draws out the consequence: honoring the Son as one honors the Father. The discourse is steadily ascending in scope and claim.

v.20For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.

v.21This passage

v.22For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Kings 5:7

    And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

  • John 11:25

    Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;

  • Luke 8:54

    But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise.

  • Luke 7:14

    And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

  • Deuteronomy 32:39

    See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

  • Romans 8:11

    But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

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